Skip to main content

Spectrum: Autism Research News

topic /

Science & Society

From funding decisions to scientific fraud, a wide range of societal factors shape autism research.

May 2014

Distinct differences mark male, female autism brains

by  /  20 May 2014

Male and female preschoolers with autism have distinct sets of brain regions that distinguish them from typically developing controls, according to unpublished research presented Saturday at the 2014 International Meeting for Autism Research in Atlanta.

Comments

Twin study set to explore autism, attention deficit overlap

by  /  16 May 2014

A Swedish twin study plans to search for the shared genetic and environmental origins of autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, which are often mistaken for each other.

Comments

Reactions from IMFAR 2014

by  /  16 May 2014

Daily updates and reactions from attendees at the 2014 International Meeting for Autism Research in Atlanta, Georgia.

Comments

Analysis finds high rates of gut problems in autism

by  /  15 May 2014

Children with autism are about four times more likely to experience gastrointestinal distress than are their typically developing peers, reports a large review published 28 April in Pediatrics.

Comments

Prenatal antidepressant use may up autism risk in sons

by  /  9 May 2014

Women who take antidepressants such as Prozac while pregnant may increase their sons’ risk of autism and developmental disability, reports a study published 14 April in Pediatrics. But, like other studies before it, the study leaves room for doubt.

Comments

Mothers of children with autism share their sensory problems

by  /  2 May 2014

A small study published 3 April in Molecular Autism has found that 98 percent of mothers of children with autism have unusual responses to sensory stimuli, including light, sound and touch.
 

Comments

Clinical research: Low maternal thyroid raises autism risk

by  /  2 May 2014

Children born to women who have low levels of the thyroid hormone have a moderately increased risk of developing autism, according to a large Danish study published 10 March in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Comments
April 2014

Autism lesion or artifact? Experts discuss new find

by  /  30 April 2014

Disorganized patches found in the brains of children with autism prompt debate about their significance for the disorder. Three experts give their perspectives.

Comments

Recommendations may alleviate child psychiatrist shortage

by  /  25 April 2014

The U.S. has a severe shortage of active child and adolescent psychiatrists, but more scholarships and training opportunities may increase their ranks, says a report released 27 March.

Comments

Clinical research: Father’s age affects child’s risks

by  /  22 April 2014

Children born to fathers older than 45 years have a heightened risk of developing a range of conditions, from autism to addiction, according to a large Swedish study published 1 April in JAMA Psychiatry.

Comments